Unlike modern Nintendo Switch titles that receive extensive downloadable content (DLC), main-series Pokémon games on the 3DS relied on free patches to correct critical errors and adjust online features. Pokémon Ultra Moon and its counterpart Ultra Sun reached Version 1.2 on April 4, 2018. This update came five months after the game’s release and preceded the Pokémon Sword and Shield announcement.
The update enforced the official Video Game Championships (VGC) 2018 rule set, automatically restricting banned Mega Stones (e.g., Kangaskhanite, Gengarite) and Z-Crystals in ranked battles. It did not, however, add new Pokémon forms or moves.
Pokémon Ultra Moon , released for the Nintendo 3DS in November 2017, received its final significant patch, Version 1.2, in April 2018. This paper examines the update’s technical and gameplay modifications, including bug fixes, online functionality changes, and the removal of unintended game mechanics. It argues that Update 1.2 primarily served to enforce competitive balance and patch exploit-based glitches rather than add new content, reflecting Nintendo and The Pokémon Company’s post-launch strategy for the 3DS era.